"You like Aunt Az, don't you Zero?" Doris asked when she caught up with Zero after her lessons.
"She's okay in my book. I took commands from the witch that possessed her once. I hated that. But I did it all for her" Zero told her when they headed back inside.
"Or did you do it all for yourself?".
"I promise, kid, I didn't".
"I can tell she needs a lot of cuddle time" Doris sat down when the two made it to the dining hall to get lunch.
"What do you mean?" Zero asked.
"I mean, she's so sad all the time. She feels really bad about what happened, and she's lonely. She can't do anything practically. She wants to get married and start a family, but she can't".
"Why?".
"They'll take her kid from her. Nowadays, guys want heirs if they have large fortunes and stuff. Aunt Az thinks she'll be a disappointment if she married someone like that".
"What if she didn't?" Zero asked.
"I don't know. People just don't get together for love anymore. I think mama and daddy were the last couple to be married for that reason".
Zero considered it for a minute. He didn't want Azkadellia to feel alone, not after what she had shown him and told him. He wanted to make her happy, but his jurisdiction was with Doris now. Not that he didn't want to be there with Doris enjoying a good conversation, but he felt needed for a change. There was a fine line between need and want, and he had crossing that line on both sides lately.
"I almost married once, but she never showed up".
"Did she run off or something?".
Zero shrugged. "Don't know. I haven't cared for a few years now though".
Doris didn't reply. "It'd be really cool if you and Auntie got married, then I could call you uncle Zero".
"Look kiddo, what in the world do you want from me?" Zero asked, but was smiling about it.
"I want you to be happy, and not that fake stuff you pull off. Just because you have to protect me now doesn't mean you can't have a life, you know".
"Don't worry Doris, I'm happy with what I have".
"Funny, half the time you don't look it. Anyway, so you do like her right?".
"Yeah, I do".
"Oh my gosh, does she know?!".
Zero shrugged. "I don't know. I gave off the right vibes, but…I don't know if she got them".
"Dude, tell you hoe you feel about her, she likes that. All grown up girls love that mushy stuff".
"So do you".
"Good point. Still, tell her. Then you guys can get married, live happily ever after, and have lots and lots of kids, despite what that dumb law says! Fight the law, Zero. You did once".
"And what do you know, the law won".
"So? Do it again! Fight the power!".
Zero went along with her funny shenanigans. He raised his fist a little.
"Anarchy, anarchy!" he joked.
"I don't know what that means, but I like the sound of it!".
The two friends laughed it up and it was certain, no more suspicions, the former Long Coat leader was definitely, for sure, in love with his new friend's aunt.
A/N: Yeah, she doesn't know what anarchy means. I'll probably have Zero explain it later to her, just not now. See ya next chapter.
